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Council code, integrity commissioner coming

North Bay will soon be required to appoint an integrity commissioner and implement a code of conduct for members of council.

The measures are among a number of changes being phased in over the next 16 months for municipalities under the Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act.

According to a recent report to council, codes of conduct for members of council and certain local boards will be mandatory as of March 1 2019, along with the appointment of an integrity commissioner.

Council adopted a motion last year that called for the creation of a code of conduct for it members. It was supposed to have been tabled within 30 days, but has yet to come forward.

The motion, which was tabled by Coun. Mac Bain stemmed directly from what he suggested were breaches of confidentiality by members of council who have leaked in-camera information to the media and the public.

At the time, Bain called for a code of conduct that would carry repercussions for such breaches, including leaking information or accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Under the rules, the city could appoint it owns integrity commissioner or arrange to share that of another municipality.

Integrity commissioners will also have new powers to conduct inquiries about whether members have contravened the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Other upcoming changes that take effect Jan. 1 include a new definition of a meeting and new closed meeting exceptions, as well as rules surrounding electronic participation in council meetings.

The changes will require municipalities to adopt a policy on pregnancy and parental leave for council members as of March 1, 2019.

Also effective on that date, will be new requirements for council members under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, calling for a written statement from those who has disclosed a pecuniary interest. And the city will be required to maintain a registry of such statements for public inspection. In addition, judges will be provided a broader range of penalties for contraventions to the Act.